EPA Proposes Registration Review Decisions and Ecological Protections for Several Pesticides

Released on December 23, 2022

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed interim registration review decisions (PIDs) for nine pesticide cases. The PIDs for the four conventional pesticide cases include Interim Ecological Mitigation measures described in EPA’s November 2022 Endangered Species Act (ESA) Workplan Update to protect nontarget organisms, which may also protect federally endangered and threatened (i.e., listed) species. For the antimicrobial case, EPA is proposing to mitigate risks to nontarget species by cancelling higher risk uses, and for the four biopesticides, EPA found no effect on listed species, so no additional ecological mitigation is needed.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires EPA to reevaluate pesticides every 15 years to ensure that as the ability to assess risk evolves and as policies and practices change, pesticides continue to meet the statutory standard of causing no unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment.

When EPA identifies risks of concern to human health from dietary or residential exposure, it must take steps to address those risks. For risks to workers or the environment, EPA may determine that additional mitigation is necessary based on the risks and benefits of the pesticide. During registration review, EPA also has obligations under the ESA that may result in additional assessments and mitigation. 

These PIDs propose risk mitigation measures based on findings in the draft human health and ecological risk assessments (DRAs) and feedback submitted during the DRAs’ public comment periods. The following pesticide PIDs are being released today for public comment:

Conventional pesticides

For the four conventional pesticide cases, EPA is proposing additional Interim Ecological Mitigation measures to provide protections for nontarget organisms, which EPA expects may also reduce pesticide exposures to listed species. This work furthers the goals outlined in EPA’s April 2022 ESA Workplan and its November 2022 ESA Workplan Update.

The November update proposed a menu of Interim Ecological Mitigation measures that EPA will draw from for many conventional and biological pesticide registration and registration review actions to protect nontarget species. EPA considered this menu for the four conventional pesticide PIDs released today and is proposing specific measures based on the risks and benefits of each pesticide.

DCNA: A fungicide registered for use on crops such as celery, fennel, endive, lettuce, onion, shallot, garlic, snap beans and Christmas trees.
Etofenprox: An insecticide structurally similar to the pyrethroids, etofenprox is registered for use on rice, in indoor residential and commercial settings, on pets for flea and tick control, and for public health mosquito control.
Norflurazon: An herbicide used to suppress germinating grass and broadleaf weeds for agricultural crops such as alfalfa, almonds, apples, asparagus, citrus, grapes and caneberries. It is also used in non-crop areas on agricultural premises.
Thiophanate-methyl and Carbendazim: Thiophanate-methyl is a systemic fungicide registered for use on various fruits, nuts and vegetable crops, and as seed treatment for beans, peanuts and potatoes. It is also used in non-agricultural settings such as golf courses, sod farms, greenhouses and nurseries. Carbendazim is used in antimicrobial products as an industrial biocide for materials preservation and as a conventional tree injection.

Antimicrobials

1,3-Propanediamine, N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-dodecyl- (1,3-PAD): Registered for use in poultry and animal housing facilities, restaurants, beverage and food processing plants, and schools, where it is used to sanitize non-food contact surfaces such as floors and walls and to control fruit flies in floor and sink drains. It is also registered for use in metalworking fluids and oil field flood water systems. In the PID for 1,3-PAD, EPA is proposing to terminate uses in metalworking fluids and oil field flood water systems, which have the highest ecological risk.

Biopesticides

Lavandulyl Senecioate: A synthetic pheromone to attract male vine mealybugs to disrupt their mating cycle and protect raisins, table grapes, and wine grapes.
Oregano Oil: A contact herbicide used to control moss on a variety of outdoor structures and surfaces.
Penta-termanone: A blend of naturally occurring hydrocarbons found in the waxy outer layer of some termites that acts as a pheromone and is used for termite control.
Plant Extract 620: A fungicide used to control parasitic nematodes and certain fungal infections. Also used as a plant growth regulator.

For the above biopesticides, EPA did not propose specific Interim Ecological Mitigation measures because EPA determined that each of these chemicals will have no effect on listed species or their designated critical habitats and no additional mitigations were needed.

The PIDs are now available for public comment in their respective pesticide registration review dockets at www.regulations.gov for 75 days. The docket for each pesticide is linked above.

After the publication of the PIDs, EPA will consider public comments and issue interim decisions.